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Representatives Adriano Espaillat and Don Bacon Introduce the Harvesting Knowledge Act
NY Sun Works is proud to announce our support for the recent Harvesting Knowledge Act, which was reintroduced by Representatives Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and Don Bacon (NE-02) for the 118th Congress. In line with our mission and work with soon to be over 350 schools across New York City, this legislation aims to support urban agriculture education – a critical yet often overlooked curriculum that will jumpstart students’ interest and careers in sustainable agricultural technology.
“As we begin negotiations for the Farm Bill, nurturing student access to STEM education and urban agriculture will be critical to the health and sustainability of our future,” said Rep. Espaillat. “My bill aims to help prepare the next generation of leaders in agriculture by training our future biologists, nutritionists, and climate change scientists—especially in urban areas with limited access to farms. By increasing access to new technologies and skills today, our students and their families will have the resources they need to help secure a sustainable future in the face of the daily challenges of climate change.”
The Harvesting Knowledge Act would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to include indoor agricultural technology as an activity that supports well-rounded education, as well as provide grant funding for related projects. This bill will also provide a dedicated funding stream for urban agriculture education, focus on including hydroponic and aquaponic technologies in classroom education, and introduce hands-on activities to cultivate an interest in biology, nutrition, and sustainability subjects.
“As a kid who grew up on the farm, I am continually amazed at new indoor farming techniques and believe that giving students a hands-on learning experience in that area will continue to help hydroponics and aquaponics grow,” said Rep. Bacon. “These grants will help spread this to students who may never have had the opportunity to learn about this exciting form of agriculture.”
Since our organization’s inception, we’ve utilized cutting-edge urban farming technology to re-engage NYC students in their education, building key skills in observation, data analysis, and critical thinking while increasing their awareness of the climate challenges facing us today. This work is especially critical in an urban setting, where young people from low-income neighborhoods have historically faced increased barriers to entry when considering green careers and post-secondary education opportunities, as well as decreased access to healthy foods and the science behind what makes them so nutritious. These same neighborhoods often overlap with Black and Brown communities, which have also been excluded from similar early climate resiliency efforts.
“I am pleased to support this initiative to codify the use of hydroponic farming technology as a STEM teaching tool. This legislation also serves as an important step towards ensuring food access through sustainable farming, as hydroponic technology can provide immediate access to healthy, fresh, and nutritious food in every neighborhood of our cities,” said NY Sun Works Executive Director Manuela Zamora. “After more than 10 years of bringing hydroponic farming technology into New York City public school classrooms and working with students to grow food year-round as they learn about sustainability science, nutrition, and climate education, I applaud this effort to also train the next generation of farmers to meet the challenges of our time.”
We’re honored to continue to partner with leaders and public figures who understand the urgency behind implementing quality climate science education in our public schools and are deeply grateful to have a seat at the table for this critical conversation, now more than ever. Every child deserves a sustainable future, and it’s up to us as the leaders of today to empower our young people with the knowledge, passion, and opportunities they need to flourish tomorrow.
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Walking the Walk: Building a New Classroom with Bregal Investments
Last month, we shared another exciting collaboration with volunteers and their families from our long-time partners Bregal Investments (Bregal). Now in its sixth year, Bregal’s corporate sponsorship of our hydroponic classroom program has provided funding for a new in-school lab each year, creating new pathways to quality climate education for thousands of students around NYC. This year, a hardworking group of volunteers joined our team of hydroponic operations specialists in assembling the indoor farming systems necessary to bring nature back into the classroom. These systems will be used to support climate education at M047 The American Sign Language and English Secondary School, and past years have included lab builds at the K527 Urban Assembly Institute of Math & Science for Youth Women, Q014 The Fairview School, K059 William Floyd, X085 Great Expectations, and M500 Unity Center for Urban Technologies.
This new lab is also a first, in that The ASL & ES School is a public school geared toward students in the deaf community, including both hearing and deaf students, as well as hard-of-hearing students. This new partnership serves as a reminder both to us and to our communities that climate education must be a collective and inclusive endeavor. For meaningful change to be realized, it’s vital that all students have the opportunity to build and participate in a diverse, sustainable future. Additionally, builds like these are important because they symbolize a continued effort on our part to walk the proverbial walk, setting the example for students in our community who may feel daunted by today’s climate challenges. By making a difference in our local NYC communities, we hope students will feel empowered to rise to the occasion and use the knowledge they have gained in school to be the change they want to see.
We want to thank the volunteers from Bregal, as well as their families, for their enthusiasm and generosity in their continued support of our program. In addition to their annual funding contributions, they braved the intense summer heat to work hands-on with hydroponic systems, spending hours of their free time building a new way to learn about the climate, one indoor farm at a time. We also want to thank the teachers and school leaders at The ASL & ES School for welcoming our program to their teaching regimen, and look forward to a flourishing partnership that will introduce thousands of new students to the wonders of sustainability science!
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Rep. Yvette Clarke and NY Sun Works Bring Sustainability and Climate Science to 20 Brooklyn Schools
With schools soon closing for the summer, and students departing from their hydroponic classrooms, we’re getting ready to build new labs in schools across the city once again. Last week, we invited Congresswoman Yvette Clarke of NY’s 9th District to her Brooklyn alma mater Edward R. Murrow High School to announce that through her generous support, we’re building 18 new hydroponic classrooms and 2 new workforce development programs in schools throughout her district!
During her visit to Edward R. Murrow, Rep. Clarke shared her thoughts on the importance of climate education with educators, principals, and students from her Brooklyn district, as well as insights from her time as a student on the school’s STEM track years ago. She also listened as students from Murrow’s Greenhouse Club shared how hydroponics have enriched their in-school experience, and how sustainability science has inspired them to continue their studies over the summer and beyond. Afterward, the student farmer-scientists guided guests including Rep. Clarke through their hydroponic greenhouse and indoor aquaponic systems, which host a variety of flourishing crops from basil and lettuce to marigolds and strawberries. They also demonstrated a few of the skills they’ve learned in caring for these systems, including water quality and pH testing, and how to harvest from the various systems types.
Through this $800,000 investment, we’re igniting the spark of lasting change in local communities throughout the 9th Congressional District. Using hands-on science and cutting-edge hydroponic systems, students in our program learn the importance of making environmentally responsible choices, giving them the tools and knowledge they need to successfully navigate a climate-altered future. Through cultivating a deep understanding of the science behind sustainability, we hope to train a generation of future climate leaders, scientists, activists, and more, who will be the change they wish to see in their communities. Additionally, our Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Workforce Development Program will help connect high school students with potential careers, internships, and post-secondary education opportunities in fields related to science and urban farming. For students who come from low-income neighborhoods in New York, these new connections can make a substantial difference in overcoming comparatively significant barriers to entry.
Our mission goes beyond the walls of the hydroponic classroom, with a far-reaching approach that emphasizes students’ ability to share their passion for the environment with friends and family. By fostering a personal connection with sustainability science concepts through caring for plants of their own, we hope students will continue to consider their impact on the planet no matter what career path they choose to follow. We need sustainability-minded leaders in all fields, not just indoor farming and scientific study. Without politicians, activists, educators, and so many others, making meaningful changes to protect the climate would be virtually impossible. Every student in the over 300 schools we partner with has the potential to become the next Yvette Clarke by making a meaningful difference in the lives of those in their community. And while it will take each and every one of us doing our part to address the environmental challenges of today, after hearing from these student leaders, we’re confident in the future of sustainability science.
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iGrowNews: Brooklyn Schools Get Boost for Green Education and Workforce Training from Rep. Yvette Clarke
Manuela Zamora, Executive Director of NY Sun Works, and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (NY-09) announced a significant advancement in climate and sustainability education. The expansion involves installing state-of-the-art hydroponic farms and introducing a high school-level agriculture workforce development program in 20 Brooklyn schools. The unveiling of this $800,000 investment took place at Edward R. Murrow High School and was realized through the Community Project Funding initiative.
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The NY Sun Works Youth Conference in Review!
We’re wrapping up our coverage of this year’s annual Youth Conference, but we couldn’t forget to mention and shout out the heart of our work – the students! With a variety of intriguing presentations from students as young as 2nd grade, and as old as 12th, we truly appreciate all the hard work they did in preparing for this exciting event. We also want to commend the bravery it took to stand in front of an audience of over 900 peers and teachers, and present personal research and projects live! These students have truly done something remarkable, and we hope they will carry this experience with them into the future.
Kicking off the first session of student presenters was Javits Center President and CEO Alan Steel, who as an avid environmentalist, made great strides in aligning the signature glass architecture of Javits with sustainability initiatives like their rooftop pavilion and farm, as well as significant investments into the Center’s energy efficiency. This first session centered on Growing, with students focusing their work on adopting the mantle of farmer-scientists, and running investigations in their hydroponic classrooms. Students used creative solutions and the scientific method to repurpose plant suckers, examine water quality, and dive into plant pollinators. Additionally, audience members learned about plant life cycles, including how nutrient choices and even emotional stimuli can impact plant growth! Right after, we heard from Qiana Micke, the first Executive Director of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Urban Agriculture, who leads the city’s efforts to increase access to and production of locally fresh food, while minimizing our contributions to climate change.
Our second session emphasized Innovation, and inspiring students to act as innovators. This session was introduced by Gotham Greens co-founder and sustainability entrepreneur Viraj Puri! Viraj has grown Gotham Greens to be one of the largest commercially successful indoor farming companies, changing the way city-goers think about local and fresh foods.Students presenting during this section tackled designing hydroponic systems of their own, as well as imagining solutions to a variety of current climate challenges. Student topics included repurposing rainwater for greenhouse use using a rainwater catchment system, alternative growing substrates for soilless farming, homemade and automated hydroponic systems, and even the benefits of vermicomposting! Presenters in this group were particularly diligent about recording their observations and data, showing off their passion for science and creativity. And closing out this section will be New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. Speaker Adams, as a true innovator, acts as the first-ever African American Speaker and leads not only the most diverse Council in NYC history but also the first women-majority Council!
Finally, we concluded with a session focused on Action and Change. We want our students to act as global citizens, and engage in community events at a local level, while thinking about greater challenges in the bigger picture. Introducing students who presented their activism-forward projects was Kaela Mainsah, Vice President of New York Power Authority’s Environmental Justice program. Kaela has been creating change for over 15 years in the worlds of environmental policy and engineering management, both in the US and UK. These farmer-scientists took their learning beyond the hydroponic classroom, with topics including the effects of ocean acidification on shelled sea animals, how green space on school campuses impacts air quality, interactions between plants and heavy metals, and the pros and cons of sunscreen! Additionally, students created community-focused projects such as using hydroponics to create in-school connections, and promote school stewardship, as well as awareness of where our food comes from. And last but certainly not least, rounding out our show was Jerri Taylor, the Director of Diversity in Career Pathways at the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. Through building support programs for diverse youth looking to navigate green careers, she leads multiple programs carving out new ways for the next generation to tackle today’s environmental issues.
Additionally, this year’s Conference hosted a variety of other exciting opportunities! Firstly, our inaugural Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Career Fair hosted 16 organizations in education, sustainability, science, and urban farming from around NYC, connecting High School students in our workforce development program with scholarship, internship, and job opportunities. Additionally, a Student Art Show from West End Secondary decorated the glass halls of Javits splendidly, giving students attending the conference a beautiful welcome. And lastly, our new and improved Youth Press Team covered the Conference live, interviewing presenters and guest speakers alike for their newly published articles.
We are incredibly proud of all the hard work these students put in, performing their experiments and studies, preparing them for presentation, and climbing the steps of the stage to speak in front of a live audience. Additionally, we are deeply thankful for the teachers and parents who guided them along the way, providing insights and direction when needed, and otherwise allowing students to thrive and succeed. If you would like to watch these presentations for yourself, check out the full Conference recording!
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Youth Press Team, Reporting Live!
This year’s Discovering Sustainability Science Youth Conference was a roaring success! With so many spectacular student presenters and sustainability experts in attendance, it was of vital importance to document and analyze the important connections being made, and topics being shared during this celebration of science.
To this end, seven students from our hydroponic classrooms volunteered to adopt the mantle of junior journalists during the conference, and interviewed both fellow farmer-scientists as well as guest speakers. After the conference, each Press Team member wrote a thoughtful article detailing why they felt a Conference of this nature was so important. These talented young writers have shared their take-aways from this electric event, and we encourage you to read about their experiences, which include interviews with Qiana Mickie, Executive Director of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Urban Agriculture, Director of Diversity in Career Pathways at the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Jerri Taylor, and VP of Environmental Justice at New York Power Authority Kaela Mainsah.
Thank you to Giuliana Nagel, Anushka Gupta, Gabriela Waddell-Rodriguez, and Lucy Zary on our Junior Press Team as well as Laila Mansour, Madeline Keiger, and Nalani Morris on our Senior Press Team for their hard work in covering this event! Click on each Press Team member’s name to read their article.
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HARLEM WORLD: NY Sun Works Hosted NYC Students At Its 12th Annual Science Youth Conference
NY Sun Works hosted 900 young people from Harlem to The Hudson yesterday at their 12th Annual Discovering Sustainability Science Youth Conference. The event took place at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.
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Patch: Brooklyn School Plans Experiential Campus at Floyd Bennett Field with NY Sun Works
On Friday, May 5, Launch Expeditionary Learning Charter School (Launch), its nonprofit partners, and elected officials unveiled for a seven-acre experiential learning campus with a new high school and world-class facilities where students and community members will build pathways to green jobs and develop solutions to climate change, food injustice, and systemic racism.
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2023 Youth Conference Media Contest!
The Youth Conference Media Contest supports our annual Discovering Sustainability Youth Conference by connecting students attending the conference with their peers in the city and audiences online! Whether you’d like to show off a recent harvest, or give us a tour of your hydroponic classroom, we want to see and share what you love about sustainability and climate science! Submit your entries via Instagram and Twitter, making sure to include our handle @NYSunWorks and hashtag #nysunworks. We can accept any form of digital or physical media, including written poems or haikus, videos or presentations, and photos of plants, systems, or even selfies.
By submitting your entry to our contest, you give us permission to share your content on social media, and on the big screen at the Youth Conference. Winners will be announced after the conference, with more information on prizes to come!
- Only schools attending this year’s Youth Conference are eligible to participate
- Entries must include both our hashtag and social media handle to be counted
- Entries should be submitted before Monday, May 22nd in preparation for the Conference itself
For questions and more information, contact Jake Bronstein, Social Media and Communications Coordinator.
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50 New Hydroponic Labs to Finish Construction This Summer!
With the end of the school year on the horizon, NY Sun Works has big plans for the coming summer, making good use of the time students spend enjoying their well-earned vacation. With funding secured by Senate Majority Leader and NY Senator Chuck Schumer, as well as Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Representatives Hakeem Jeffries, Ritchie Torres, and Yvette Clarke, we’re bringing our program to thousands of students and future farmer-scientists with 50 new partner schools in Brooklyn and the South Bronx. If you know of a school in Congressional Districts 8, 9, or 15 that would be interested in and benefit from receiving a NY Sun Works hydroponic program through this funding, please let us know.
As we continue expanding our program through large, targeted investments like these, it’s important we consider who our efforts will impact, and the context in which we invest in New York’s communities. While climate literacy and resiliency efforts could use improvement across the board, underserved neighborhoods, particularly those of color, have a significantly greater need for these types of services. Not only are Black and Brown communities frequently excluded from climate and sustainability programs, but quality STEM education is also more challenging to access for those who live and learn therein. Almost all of the 50+ schools joining the NY Sun Works community are located in areas of high need, with some areas facing a severe discrepancy as high as 22 percentage points above the citywide average of 71% on the Student Economic Need Index. Through these new partnerships, we want to introduce new opportunities for learning, growing fresh food, and building community connections all while addressing the ever-pressing issue of global climate change.
New York is at the forefront of the world’s growing urban centers and should set an example for other cities both nationally and abroad in tackling the important issues of today. The Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice recently released its Strategic Climate Plan, reaffirming our city’s commitment to implementing sustainability at all levels. It’s up to all of us as residents and representatives of our communities to embody sustainable values and be the change we want to see in the world. And together, with support from our political leaders and the hard work of communities around the city, we can build a brighter, greener future.
